by Anna C.
I am sure you would agree that the hub of activity at St. Mary’s (at least in normal, non-COVID-19 times) is the kitchen/fellowship hall. This is where we have gathered over the years to snack and share our stories after liturgy, hold social or small fundraising events, celebrate birthdays and life-cycle events, hold cooking classes or offer dinners parishioners won in our annual auctions. Yet our beloved little kitchen has also been a source of frustration. When we asked some of you about what you thought was missing, inconvenient or dysfunctional at our current kitchen, pent up frustrations came pouring out:
- There is no proper storage for almost all items.
- There is barely any room.
- There is not enough space for multiple people to work behind the counter and we are limited in how many items can be cooked at once.
- We really need to replace the plumbing – hot water is non-existent, and the plumbing is probably as corroded as St. Nina’s.
- There is only one sink and we have no dishwasher.
- Even simple things, like the water pressure, do not work.
Yet you were also willing to share your dreams and visions for a functional kitchen and consider the many things we would be able to accomplish with such a critical resource. You envisioned:
- A much larger, fully equipped and well-functioning kitchen that could accommodate preparing and serving food for large-scale events such as the dinner dance, Doxacon, a food festival, private celebrations such as wedding and baptismal receptions and, possibly, rentals to selected outside groups
- A much larger cooking area.
- More space for food storage.
- A double sink for washing items and properly rinsing them without using too much water.
- A much better traffic flow so that there will no longer be long lines or “traffic jams”.
- DRAWERS! Not simply shelves.
- A faucet that is high enough for putting together a flower arrangement and be able to get water in comfortably.
- A beautiful kitchen with light, clean and neutral colors, so it’s a good background for any decorations.
- A space so lovely and calm, we could perhaps hang icons on the walls.
- Two ovens in the kitchen, a six-burner range and even a warming cabinet.
What is even more heartening about this picture, however, is that the collective vision that emerged is within our reach. Our architect, Maria A., studied your “wish list” and has already revised her original concept design to reflect what we heard.
Take a look at her revised design.
Notice:
- A considerably larger kitchen (possibly three or four times larger than the current kitchen, though this only a very rough estimate).
- A well-equipped and modern kitchen with more cabinets, double appliances (2 dishwashers, 2 refrigerators, 2 sinks, double wall oven)
- A large island in the middle. This will mean that more persons can now work simultaneously on the same or different tasks, without impeding each other.
- Increased functionality and adaptability. The island can also accommodate a number of group activities—from cooking classes to arts and crafts—or serve as a place to put trays with food or hot casseroles before serving them to people.
- An overall layout which, unlike the current design, allows for a great deal of flexibility and very fluid circulation.
- Changes in the bathroom design. Maria took out the handicap stalls from both men’s and women’s bathrooms (in her original design concept) and created one unisex bathroom which will be handicap accessible and will also have a baby changing table. By doing that, extra space was created which will be used to create a large storage (4 feet x 16 feet).
The concept design is a living document that will continue to be adapted through dialogue with the parish. Join us in envisioning and creating. Send any thoughts or ideas you have on the kitchen design to [email protected] and let us know if you want to participate in future user group meetings.
